Last Friday, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority approved $125,000 to conduct a "feasibility study" into the possibility of building a new football stadium that could host both the Raiders and the 49ers. Interesting. Apparently, about a year ago, the NFL approached both teams about considering the idea of sharing a stadium like the NY Giants and Jets currently do. Boy-king of the 49ers, Jed York, is reportedly all thumbs up on the idea, stating that setting up shop in Oakland would be an option if Santa Clara fails to do his bidding by voting in favor of a stadium in their dusty little corner of the Bay Area. On their end, the City of Oakland has spent $19 million to snap up 18 acres of land around the Coliseum, supposedly to be used for building a new stadium and members of the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum Authority are very positive about the Oakland stadium option:
"There is only going to be one stadium in the Bay Area, and it's not going to be in Santa Clara," said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, a member of the Coliseum Authority board.
Well, aren't you Mr. Confidence-Pants, Supervisor Haggerty!
We seriously think that Jed York must be like the sexiest man alive right now. Who else has the amazing power to force entire municipalities to crap their drawers in fear at the thought of losing (or gaining) his team. It's not like after all these counties are done prostrating themselves before him that anyone besides the 49ers will be making any actual money out of the deal. Look at the City of Oakland. They still owe $150 million on improvements to the Coliseum after their desperate 1995 agreement to lure back the Raiders from Los Angeles. That's what we call a bargain! Jed York, you are super awesome chess playing champion of the universe. We who are about to lose (or gain) a football team, salute you.